Cardboard and like box or container



Aug. 7,- 1928. 1,679,710

B. J. CREASEY,

CARDBOARD AND LIKE BOX OR CONTAINER Filed Maw; Shee'ts-Sheet l Aug. 7. 1928.

B. J. CREASEY CARDBOARD AND LIKE BOX ORCONTAINER Filed Dec. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 7, 1928. 1,679,710

B. J. CREASEY CARDBOARD AND LIKE BOX OR CONTAINER Filed Dec. 8, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 7, 1928. 1,679,710 A B. J. CREASEY CARDBOARD AND LIKE BOX 0R CONTAINER Filed Dec. 8, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN JOSEPH CREASEY, 0]! BRISTOL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO E. 8. AND BOB- INSON, LIMITED, OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND.

CARDBOARD AND LIKE BOX OB CONTAINER. I

Application filed December 8, 1924, Serial No. 754,686, and hi Great Britain December 11, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in cardboard and other light boxes or containers for packing fragile articles, such as electric incandescent lamps, bottles or other articles, of the type wherein a support is provided for the article, within an outer box or container, comprising sides or walls inclined to the axis of the box and arranged so that the article may contact with the inner surface of said walls and be positioned in spaced relationship tothe outer walls of the box.

Collapsible or knockdown boxes of the above character have been proposed wherein the outer box is made from one blank and supporting means from another adapted to be inserted and fixed within the outer box. In this form the supporting means com-V prised four tongues separated above the base but adapted to come together and constitute a figure (when within the box), a portion of which was of pyramidal shape providing faces with which the article was intended to contact for support. It has also been prof posed to provide a box with internal tongues interlocked by tabs and slots to enclose a Wedge-shaped space for the reception of an article.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved box or container and article supporting means which may beeconomically manufactured, in which the goods may be packed or supported so as to be protected in transit, while the insertion or packing manipulation and the securing of the box or container is simple and may be elfected with facility. e

It is preferred to form the box or container in such a manner that it may be collapsed or be of what is generally known as knockdown form.

According to the invention the internal supporting means comprises a figure, all the sides (or surface) of which incline towards an apex point as in a pyramidal figure and having its inclined sides connected together above its base. It is preferred that the pyramidal figure should be formed prior to its insertion or inclusion within the outer box or container, so that a preformed unit .is provided independently of the box or container. v

The invention may comprise a truncatedpyramidal figure arranged and adapted so that a part of the article passes through the truncation aperture and may be suspended or supported inside the figure by its truncated end and afforded support in another transverse plane from the sides of the figure.

In order to enable the box to be collapsed or knocked down, a portion of the periphery of the internal unit or parts may be secured to the interior side of the walls and another portion of the eriphery may be free and adapted to be isplaced.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an inside plan of a blank suitable for forming. a collapsible box adapted to contain means for supporting a fragile article, such as an electric incandescent lamp;

Fi re 2 is an inside plan of a blank of the eveloped shape of a truncated pyramidal figure according to the invention, such as may be inserted or mounted in a box or container which may be formed by the erection of the blank shown in Figure 1;

downwardly upon a box made from a blan as illustrated in Figure 1 with an internal pyramidal unit as made from the blank in Figure 2 mounted in it;

Figure 4 shows the box and internal unit (dotted) depicted in Figure 3 in a collapsed form;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a box with an internal pyramidal unit illustrating a' mode of forming the end closure means and exemplifying inspection apertures;

Figure 6 1s a fragmentary sectional view of a box with an internal unit showing a modified form of end closure;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a pyramidal unit (independent of a container) and illustrating a mode of providing for the accommodation of an irregularity of the article to be packed, such as that formed by the shoulder part found in certain types of electric incandescent lamp;

Figure 8 is 'a blank in developed plan view of an independent pyramidal unit adapted to be inserted in a box or container without securing it thereto, and

Figure 9 is a sectional view showing the unit erected from the blank (Figure 8) positioned within a box of the collapsible type.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode as applied by way of example to a knockdown rectangular box suitable for packing electric lamps, the box or container is made from a blank or blanks according to known practice for knockdown boxes of square crosssection and side walls of the shape of a rectangle, the dimensions being suitable for the size of the lamp to be packed. End closure means or flaps of any appropriate form may be provided.

A blank of suitable form is shown in Figure 1 wherein the end closures are lettered a, a, having closing tabs or tongues a and flaps for folding inward over the contents are denoted by b and b, the blank being erected by folding on the scored lines o and securing the flap 0 to the opposite side of the blank (as indicated by the dotted line 0 by an adhesive or bystaples.

The internal unit in the present application of the invention should be of the character of a'truncated and baseless hollow four-sided pyramid. This unit may be formed from a continuous blank of the appropriate developed shape (see Figure 2) having four faces 05 of the shape of isosceles triangles with their apices cut off and suitably scored or creased for folding. A flap or tongue 6 along one terminal edge may be employed for securing to the opposite edge e uniting the blank upon itself to form the pyramidal figure. Each base edge of the faces 03 is provided with a flap or tongue at, d 03, cl, for the purpose of mounting and securing the unit within the box or assisting in positioning the unit within the box. The two adjoining corners of the flaps d and d should have their edges rounded as indicated at d to facilitate the displacement of the free' portion of the unit.

The flaps d and 03 may have their side edges which adjoin other flaps sloped or tapered away, for example, as shown at d.

A unit as made from the blank (Figure 2) is secured to the box blank (Figure 1) which may then be folded into box form and appropriately secured by the flap 0' or the unit may be inserted within the box after such has been erected and secured. The flaps d and d of the unit are fastened to the inner sides of the adjoining walls cl of the box by staples d or by an adhesive. The flaps d and cl are left free and serve to maintain or position the pyramidal unit upright in the box.

Assuming the box containing the unit to be collapsible by the extension of one of its diagonal planes passing through the axis and the approach of the opposite corner lines, the secured flaps d and 03 should be located upon the sides which decrease the included angle as the box is collapsed.

It will be observed from Figure 4, which shows the box and internal unit in plan when collapsed, that the free sides of the pyramid and their flaps d and 03 rise out down by the erected pyramidal figure and the contact of its base edges with the interior walls. The collapse of the box in the knockdown sense is provided against by the securing of the closure means.

In closing the box the flaps b are folded inwards. The lid or closure at is folded down and the flap a tucked between the edges of the flaps b and the inner surface of the opposing box wall. The bottom of the box is closed in a similar manner when the contents has beenaintroduced.

The truncation of the unit provides an aperture (Z which in the case of a symmetrical four-sided pyramid is square in plan.

This square aperture should be of a size appropriate to receive the plug or spigot in the case of an electric lamp which may be inserted so that the sides of the square aperture form tangential contact with the plug. In inserting the plug the'usual lugs on'the spigot should lie on a diagonal line of the aperture. By imparting an eighth rotational movement to the lamp the lugs may be engaged over the rectilinear edges of the aperture.

The dimensions of the unit should be such that when the spigot or plug is in position through the aperture, the glass wall or bulb rests upon or contacts with the interior inclined or pyramidal walls 03, so that the lamp is supported and laterally positioned.

A lamp secured in the above manner is suspended and supported in one transverse plane by its spigot or plug and laterally positioned or supported in a second transverse plane by the walls (I. When the box? is inverted the weight of the lamp rests upon the more or less flexible and resilient walls of the pyramidal unit.

If desired, the edges of the aperture d may be slit or notched to receive the lugs of the lamp to prevent them from becoming inadvertently displaced.

It is not necessary that the internal unit should be made with a view to its being fixed within a box or container, as such may be made in a form suitable to enable it to be inserted in position within a box or container without fixing it thereto so that it may be removed at any time as desired.

In carrying out the invention according to a modification adapted to provide an lln ' of substantially rectangular internal unit which "may be in ted or removed. from a 'box as above indicated, a blank of the shape shown in Ei'gure 8 may, be utilized. This blank comprises arts or surfaces similar to those shown in igure 2 in that truncated triangular ortions d are formed and provided with aps d, (1?, d and (1*. .In this case, however, it is not considered necessary to round the corners of the flaps 2i and d.- An appropriate shape for the flaps is shown in the drawing.

Each flap is joined to a part or portion shape (1 These parts d" are adapted to be folded on the scored lines separating the parts from the flaps d and bent until they are parallel to the axis of the pyramidal unit.

In Figure 9 a unit made from a blank such as shown in Figure 8 is illustrated in position within a collapsible form of box of known type and from this figure it will be seen that each of the parts (1 is adapted to lie against the inside surface of the side walls of the box While the flaps cl to (I lie parallel with their corresponding'parts d It is preferred that the length of the parts (1 should be coextensive with the box into which the unit is introduced in order that the closure means may definitely position the unit longitudinally within the box. It will be appreciated that this unit ma be inserted within the box in the erected orm and withdrawn therefrom at will, and in packing it may be found convenient to insert the goods within the unit while it is outside the box and then to introduce the unit with the article into the box.

It will be understood that the unit made from a blank such as shown in Figure 8 and illustrated in position in the section. shown in Figure 9, is collapsible and may be collapsed either when outside the box or when located within a collapsible form of box.

The units according to the invention, such as above indicated, may be supplemented by means in the form of transverse platforms adapted to be located adjacent either or both ends of a unit. These platforms may be einplo ed for the purpose of affording additional support to the goods and/or to the box or unit.

According to one form the box or container such as shown in Figure 5 is provided at its end adapted to receive what may be termed the base of the pyramidal unit with a platform member f which extends transversely to the box and substantially at right angles to the axis of the pyramidal member. This platform is preferably formed by providing the box with a flap hinged to one side edge thereof forming a downwardly foldable portion f. The platform part f is hinged to the flap f and has an upwardy directed part or flap f corresponding with the flap or part The part f, if desired,

may'be provide with a tongue f to facili-- tate' the sitioning or withdrawal of the parts f, and f from within the pyramidal unit.

The dimensions of the parts .and f should be such as to bring the p atform f adjacent the end of the goeds to be packed within the pyramidal unit. Where it is desired to pack an electric lamp. bulb the platmay have to move-axially in an upward-di-' rection and it may also enable a lamp to be tested by electric contacts by providing it with an aperture 9 .In order to enable this testing operation to be carried out without opening the box, the closure or flap a may have an aperture a.

The dimensions of the platforms f and 9 may be such as to cause them to assume a slightly convex shape in cross-section.

According to a modification, either the platform f or 9 may be mounted by aid of a single flap i hinged to the box (see Figure 6) in-which a platform '9 provided with an aperture 9 is depicted, although it is to be understood that this .form of construction may be equally applied in connection with the platform In all forms it is preferred that the plat orm f or 9 should correspond in'plan shape with the cross-sectional area of the box so that it fits therein and lends additional rigidity to the structure.

The apex of a pyramidal unit adjoining the aperture (1 or elsewhere, may be cut away to remove a part or may be slit or otherwise formed to accommo ate any irregularity in the shape of the article or allow of an article of asymmetrical form to be packed. i

According to one arrangement (see Figure 7) the walls d of the pyramid may be incised to provide small tabs or flaps d to make room for the bulging part or shoulder which is found in some types of electrical lamp adjacent the plug end.

Where it is desired to be able to inspect the article when packed and in order to facilitate inspection of a test of an electric lamp when packed, both the pyramidal unit and the box in which the pyramidal unit is located, may have apertures or windows formed therein. For the purpose of example, windows or inspection apertures of the above character are shown in Figure 5. The apertures h and h are formed in adjoining sides of the unit while a corresponding aperture k is provided in each of the box walls opposite the windows It and 72.. If desired, these apertures or windows, instead of being formed in walls at rightangles may be formed in walls which are opposite to one another.

The boxes or enclosures be made in a variety of sizes. In some instances, for example, it may be necessary or convenient to construct the boxes in the form of a prism or figure of triangular cross-section with corresponding pyramidlike units, and in general it will be understood that modification may be necessary in order that the unit or box may be adapted to the particular shape or characteristics of the articles to bepacked or supported.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A collapsible rectangular box for fragile articles of the type described including an internal four-sided pyramidal unit, within which the fragile article is adapted to be supported, connected at its base to the walls of the box at two of its sides, the other two sides being free so that the unit may be collapsed with and in the same sense as the box by the extension of a diagonal of the base.

2. A box for fragile articles of the type described as claimed'in claim 1 and including an internal pyramidal unit, within which the fragile article is adapted to be supported, having extensions connectedto the base of the sides of the pyramidal unit which are laterally separate from one another.

3. A collapsible rectangular box for fragile articles of the type described including an internal pyramidal unit, within which the fragile article is adapted to be supported, having flaps connected to the base of the sides of the pyramidal uliit which are laterally separate from one another and two of which are connected to the box, the remainder being free and unconnected to the box wall the arrangement being such that the unit collapses with and in the same sense as the box by the extension of one or other of the diagonals.

4. A collapsible rectangular box as claimed in claim 5 and having the adjacent side edges for the units may Lem-2'10 of those flaps which are free and unconnected to the box cut away at their corners to 'facilitate the collapsing of the pyramidal unit.

5. A collapsible rectangular box of the type described including an internal supporting unit of truncated pyramidal shape formed from a blank including four truncated triangular portions indicated folding lines, and having a tongue for securing one edge of the blank to-the other edge thereof to form the pyramidal figure and flaps connected to the basis of. the triangular portions two of which flaps are secured to the sides of the box while the other' two flaps are free and unconnected so that the box and the unit may be collapsed together by the extension of one or other of\the diagonals.

6. A collapsible box for fragile articles of the type described, including an internal pyramidal unit, within which the fragile article is adapted to be supported and having' the pyramidal sides permanently connected together above its base line, so that when laid out flat it presents in effect an uninterrupted surface on which folding lines are indicated, the unit being positioned within the box so that it may be collapsed sideways by the action of collapsing the box in the same sense.

7. A box as claimed in claim 6 wherein the pyramidal unit is truncated to form an aperture at its small end to receive an end of the fragile article so that the latter is suspended at the aperture and supported elsewhere by contact with the sides of the pyramidal unit.

8. A collapsible box for fragile articles of the type described including an internal pyramidal unit, within which the fragile article is adapted to be supported, said unit being connected at its base to the walls of the box by at least one of the sides of the pyramidal unit, the other sides thereof being left free, the arrangement being such that the unitcollapses with and in the same sense as the box by the extension of a diagonal of the base. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BENJAMIN JOSEPH CREASEY. 

